[PF-1e] La Cosa Nostra - This Thing Of Ours

[Preacherwolf]

Game Name La Cosa Nostra - This Thing Of Ours

Game System Pathfinder

Theme Sandbox, Humor, Empire Building, Crime, Bad Vs Evil

Flavour The Sopranos/The Wire by way of Grand Theft Auto

Plot Summary Plot summary Name La Cosa Nostra - This Thing Of Ours Elevator pitch An unexpected event has left the mafia families reeling. Its now a city free-for-all between the different families. Your family needs strong leadership, can you and your fellow Capo's provide it? Description Its been a golden age for organised crime as for fifty years the city's Mafia has been booming under Zaccaria 'The Don of Dons' Lettiere. Starting from merely a foot solider, Lettiere rose from the ranks to become boss of the Perenne family after the former boss Antonelli Perenne died. On his death bed it was said that Perenne personally chose Lettiere to take over for him, a sign of the faith and promise the dying leader had in the soon-to-be Don of Dons. Lettiere immediately set about reforming the mafia, calling a council of the biggest five families in the city to discuss the future of their families and of crime itself in the city. He gave each family a slice of the city, two wards per family, and each vowed not to directly interfere in the other wards and businesses. A cut would be given to Lettiere and his family, who would act as arbiter and enforcer of this peace ensuring that fair deals and proper justice would be carried out to all who dishonoured this deal. With each family out of each others way, they could focus on their rackets without disruption and get back to what truly mattered. Making gold flow through their pockets. This arrangement was mostly accepted. Of course you had the few hold outs and old timers who thought things were fine and wouldn't change, but a brief discussion followed by a small purge or two made people see the benefits of new leadership. The families solidified and become shadow nobility, political powers unto themselves. But all good things must come to an end and Lettiere is getting old. While his mind is still sharp he's decided to call together the heads of the families to discuss his retirement. His announcement has come as a shock to the five families, they figured that the Don of Dons would continue going right up until died at his desk. But as much of a shock as it is, the families are circling each putting forward theories and candidates for what the future holds. Lettiere is being very closed lips on the subject, merely saying that the upcoming summit will change the course for the city for the next hundred years. So the stage is set for the largest upheaval in crime in the last fifty years. A chance for glory and prestige on a scale previously thought unattainable alongside the almost quite literal keys to the kingdom. Tonight the Five Families descend on the Mercantile Quarter and by the end of it, a new era will begin. Its almost too good to be true...     The city is divided into 12 wards. Each family controls two wards with the exception of The Perenne family who control the Mercantile The central island which is a city quarter unto itselfWard. No family has a presence in the Palace ward as its seen as gauche to mix actual royalty and organised crime. The One Above All The Perenne family Don: Zaccaria "The Don of Dons" Lettiere Underboss: Leonardo "Ratkiller" Costigan - Lettiere's number two for the last ten years and his personal internal security chief. Its said that Costigan has a thousand and one eyes to catch any informants and threats to the family Territory: Mercantile Quarter Rackets: None. The Big Five pay The Perenne family a monthly tribute and in return the Perenne family ensures the peace between the Big Five. The Big Five The La Speranza Family Don: Anthony "Big Cheese" La Speranza - A goblin who's shadow looms over most. Generally considered a morally upstanding and law abiding citizen, when he's not shaking down people for money. While his reputation for being easy going is well deserved, he isn't afraid to get his hands dirty Underboss: Gabriel "Little Dipper" La Speranza - Cousin to Anthony, Gabriel is seen as the cocky upstart brat to his uncle's gentlemanly demeanour. None the less Gabriel is making a name for himself as an aggressive negotiator and deal maker. Territory: The Dock and Poor Wards Main Rackets: People and goods smuggling, loan sharking, sweat shops The La Morte Family Don: Nekyia "The Pale Lady" La Morte - Elven Matriarch of her family, Nekyia is a deeply religious necromancer and follower of Pharasma. Her preferred method of discipline is to kill the offender in tribute to her god and raise them as an undead thrall. Underboss: The Butcher - Nekyia's top enforcer. A 8ft tall being who's chosen weapon is a giant two handed cleaver. Their real name is unknown and is never seen outside of their pitch black full plate armour, its unclear even what race they are. Territory: The Temple and Caravan Wards Main Rackets: Smuggling occult goods and offering illegal occult services The Selvaggia Family Don: Hercules "Thin Skin" Selvaggia. A man with a notorious short temper and long list of grudges. Selvaggia is a young human who inherited his role from his father, a well respected and liked leader of the family before his retirement Underboss: Bruce "Mutton Lover" Selvaggia. Hercules' brother and someone considered more beast than man. A druid who guides the family spiritually, he often futility tries to curb his brothers violent tendencies. Bruce uses the gifts he's received as a druid to hunt down animals and prey for the family Territory: Garden and Artisan Wards Main Rackets: Animal and Wildlife trade and Protection The Il Basso Family Don: Alfredo "The High King" Il Basso. A halfling of wicked culture and refinement, Alfredo takes his mafia and racial heritage seriously. Everyone within his ranks can trace some lineage to halfling blood and all of his top men are pure blood halflings Underboss: Fabio "Gnome-wed" Fingere. The opposite of Alfredo, where Alfredo stands for refinement and all the finer things in life, Fabio stands for partying hard and fast. Is disdainful of Alfredo's pure-blooded attitude and thinks that others should be allowed to rise to the top. Territory: The Harbour and Grand Ward Main Rackets: Narcotics smuggling and underground establishments The D'oro Family Don: "Black Hand" Aurelia D'oro - A dwarven matriarch who eschews the spotlight. Little is actually known about her as she rarely leaves her villa. Despite this her presence is felt across her network, it is said that a whisper from her at breakfast can travel the world and get back to her by dinner Underboss: Joesph "The Grey" D'oro - Aurelia's husband, a dwarf who looks and personality have been known to cause lifelong insomniacs to suddenly pass out from boredom. Is nominally the D'oro's family treasurer Territory: Imperial and Civic wards Main Rackets: Forgery/White Collar crime and Wetwork Game details and Expectations I'm looking for people to join me in a criminal Pathfinder campaign. I say criminal as opposed to evil because I'm aiming for the tone to be the lighter side of grey, a broad strokes dramedy/dark comedy crime drama tone if I can manage it. While this will be a game about criminals and bad guys there is obviously still that line of good taste and decency that can't and won't be crossed and obviously there is the site's PG rating as well. Your characters will all be Capo's in The La Speranza Family and have to guide it through the tumultuous times of underworld politics while still trying to make a profit and keep ahead of the law. The game is going to centre around the group dealing with problems that arise with the family. As Capo's most of the day to day running is done below you and without the need for you to intervene. That being said larger issues such as dealing with informants, dealing with low earning or incompetent family members, negotiating treaties and deals with other families and deciding on which new rackets to expand or set up will need you. My plan is to have the group start with the weakest mafia faction and hopefully through their own skill and resourcefulness rise to be the dominant family in the city. Or end up rotting in jail for the rest of their lives, both are valid possibilities. The posting rate for this game will be at least one post per week. We live in weird and wonderful times so I can't reasonably expect or commit more time than that. I'm looking for between 4 - 6 players who are enthusiastic about being mobsters, experience and rules knowledge can slide so long as you have enthusiasm about the game and your character Game master Preacherwolf - Me - I've been playing tabletop games for at least ten years at this stage and have been an eternal DM for about eight. I've run various campaigns D&D and Pathfinder, along side Dark Heresy, Rogue Trader. Shadowrun, Genius: The Trangression, Paranoia and a host of other small one shots. Over the past couple of years I've run or attempted to run a smattering of play-by-post games in addition to my IRL games. Basically I have no self-control when it comes to running games and I don't apologise for it Characters - Your characters will all be Capo's in The La Speranza Family - Players will be starting at level 8 with the normal starting gear plus 33,000gp with which to by magic items and other gear. - Players can be any official Paizo race up to a maximum of RP 15 - Players can have up to two traits, but no flaws or drawbacks - Players can be any official Paizo class or archetype. This includes Core, Base, Hybrid, Alternate, Occult, Prestige and Unchained. Players cannot have more than two classes plus one prestige class, and players cannot have more than one archetype per class - The technology level for guns is emerging, with only early firearms available - Anything else third party/Non-paizo is not allowed, but otherwise I'll accept pretty much anything so long as you have a good story/idea behind it. - Alignment: This is going to be an criminal campaign, so while I'd expect evil alignments, I won't lock you into it. But if you have a good alignment, I'd like a good explanation as to how you justify being good and also part of a mafia family - We'll be using the 25 point buy method of stat generation, with a maximum point buy of 18 before racial modifiers - We'll be using the elephant in the room feat tax house rules - Leadership feat is banned. - We will be using Background skills Application Name: Self-Explanatory Race: Maximum RP of 15 Age: Don't forget to take into account age modifiers here Alignment: Any alignment is fine, but good characters will need some justification No more than two classes plus one prestige classClass: Any official Paizo class or archetype. This includes Core, Base, Hybrid, Alternate, Occult, Prestige and Unchained. Description: What does your character look like, a picture would be much appreciated Background: Where did your character come from? How did they get involved in this life? Give me an idea as to what your character's life is all about and where they've come from before now The Line: You're in the mafia and a criminal but is there a line you won't cross? Some act that will stop you in your tracks and cause you to go home and rethink your life? What do you, the player, want: What do you the player want out of this game?\ RP Sample: Give me a quick example of your character interacting with the city Deadline 11th of February Australian Time

[Preacherwolf]

Player	Character	Class	Status
Ziether	Jhoidha "Dead Eyes" Blackhelm	Antipaladin	Completed
OneDarkness	Bruno Larkin	Wizard	Completed
Grouchy	Lurgoz "Snaps" Ogdugarn	Unchained Rogue	Completed
triedtherest	Ichabod “Doc' Whitey” Walters	Alchemist/Guild Poisoner	Completed
AlphaZ	Leona Avanci	Unchained Monk/Swashbuckler	Completed
Seekr64	Damon Draven	Rogue/Shadowdancer	Completed
Touketsu	Damien "Snake Eyes" Buranta	Bard	WIP
pianoman90	Dennis Crispin	Barbarian/Alchemist	Completed
ekidnu	Sicily Mezzoalto	Sorcerer	WIP
Silk	Samantha "<insert nickname!>" Wells	Swashbuckler/Fighter	Completed
Imveros	Lex "The Crumb" Penley	Cleric	Completed
Barrigan	Azrael Seraph	Sorcerer	Completed

[Ziether]

The Basics Name: Jhoidha "Dead Eyes" Blackhelm Race: Half-Orc Age: Adult Alignment: Lawful Evil (plays well with others) Class: Tyrant Antipaladin Party Roles: Battlefield Controller, Face, UMD Specialist Description:   Tall and exquisite, Jhoidha strikes an imposing figure even without her armor and weapons. With skin in a gray-green hue, she is obviously a product of mixed heritage even before the tiny fangs poke out from her lips. That skin is smooth and polished, with a wavy pattern almost unnoticeably running through it, an outward manifestation of her fiendish contract. Crimson irises catch the light and stand out against her angular face, framed as it is in her shoulder-length ebony locks. Style is always a consideration for the half-orc, but not at the expense of function. In times of conflict, she dons a suit of plate, adorned with accentuating markings, but still fitted for war. A no-nonsense sword never leaves her side. When going about her normal day, she prefers well-tailored fitted trousers in dark colors and leather vests, leaving her long, muscled arms bare. An Unholy Symbol of Asmodeusangular glint of red metal often juts out of a pocket or pouch, but never actually emerges in public. Background:   From a young age, Jhoidha Blackhelm wanted one thing above all else, and that thing was power. Looking around the city and seeing the factions vying for advantage over one another, she knew that she would need to hedge her bets and invest in her future, even if it meant taking drastic measures. She needed to catch the eye of one of the families and then make good decisions to keep herself alive. Being a pawn would chafe horribly, but it was the only viable means to her goals. In order to gain power, Jhoidha first consulted with a priest of Asmodeus. The servant of the Lord of Darkness smiled at the intelligence shown by the young half-orc, and told her of a profane ritual that he held on the new moon each cycle where she could treat with a powerful devil in the employ of the Dark Prince. At the next new moon, the ambitious woman signed an infernal pact damning her soul to Hell in exchange for a measure of power, power that would steadily grow as her life went on. She saw that consorting with powerful devils was a path to glory, and stayed with the clergy, marrying her innate skill with a blade to the tenets of Asmodeus’ church, emerging three years later with the official sanction of the King of Hell as a knight of his tyranny. Armed with her intense training and the soulless gaze granted by her pact, Jhoidha took up work as outside muscle for the La Speranza family, proving her value as an intimidating figure, but also by defusing heated situations with nothing more than her words. In four years of employment, she became so invaluable for her ability to minimize violence that one of the soldiers she often worked with sponsored her for full membership. In celebration, Jhoidha returned to the shrine of Asmodeus and deepened her damnation, undergoing the same ritual she had before and emerging with a blessing from Hell that masked her true nature from prying magics. As a soldier, Jhoidha hated taking orders and knowing that dire consequences awaited should she fail her capo. Loyalty was important, however. During these five years of service, she found the one bit of compassion remaining in her soul. While she successfully managed to talk sense into most of the idiots she dealt with, there was a reason a powerful unholy knight was working in organized crime. Her blade ran red with alarming frequency. The emotional pain sent her running back to the dark ritual, seeking the numbing solace of heightened power. It was all paying off. Finally bolstered with fiendskin to inure her body to cold, she was ready to ascend to her first command. Control felt good. Getting out of the everyday bloodbath and having a greater measure of influence over the methods used fit Jhoidha perfectly. She had much less of a problem with telling a goon to do something horrible than doing it herself. She reveled in the newfound freedom, but it was extremely shortlived. With her eternal soul promised to Hell and the crowded commotion of the Family clearing as she climbed above the rank and file, she saw her goal directly. She was on a mountaintop, but there were those still above her, riding the clouds. There would be no peace for Jhoidha Blackhelm until she sat atop a throne above them all. Mortality could be held at bay given enough power, and she wanted to make her time in power last. The the Big Cheese was in charge, and she respected that. That said, she knew she could do better, and she was going to find her opportunity to prove it in due time. The Line:   Jhoidha will not outright lie. She is devoted to Asmodeus, the Archdevil who is the lord of contracts, and wishes to exemplify his priorities. In addition, she is careful about the collateral effects of the business she is a part of. She will not personally harm children, and will instruct her soldiers to do as much as they can to avoid harming them as well. She actually hates violence, but sees it as an expedient tool. If she or her soldiers are forced to harm people to the point of death, she goes out of her way to find out if they had families and then anonymously donates money to take care of those families. What do you, the player, want:   I want to have the chance to explore the dynamics between the outward-facing parts of Jhoidha’s design (Intimidate and Diplomacy) and the internal monologue she keeps. She is not designed as a smashy combat character, but rather as a symbol of utter terror who wades through a situation with complete confidence. I want to see how the truly damned react. All of this would give me plenty of opportunities to implement dry humor and even some slapstick in the right situations, which is ultimately my favorite in roleplaying. I favor dark, serious scenarios with just a dash of silly thrown in to keep things from going overboard. RP Sample:   RP Sample Do It Yourself Jhoidha Blackhelm’s office chamber was far from silent, the walls echoing with the clatter of hard-soled leather boots on stone as the powerful woman paced back and forth, smoldering fury painted on her every feature. The adjoining room was filled with her soldiers, but the idiots were at least smart enough to shut up when the boss was in such a state. Failure is a risk in every operation, but this is worse than failure. This is incompetence. Her squad had been tasked with a bit of simple extortion. Shake down one of the dockmaster’s lackeys to get intel on a cargo in the port. Maybe rough the man up a bit. Don’t get caught. Five La Speranza soldiers had set out to the docks. Only four had returned, and those were bloodied and battered. Why’d Garzo have to go and get himself killed, the imbecile!? With a derisive snort, Jhoidha whirled on one heel and strode purposefully to the door, forcing calm into her limbs in order to open the portal and step through. "None of you leaves this room until I return, and I mean not at all," Jhoidha stated flatly, her soulless eyes slowly traversing the space and catching each of her beaten subordinates’ fearful faces. "If I am dragged down to Hell itself, you can join Garzo before you can leave." One look at her suit of plate was all it took for the infernal knight to step out into the night air unarmored. I don’t need to give the guard any excuses to accost me. Turning toward the harbor, she took a deep breath, condensation billowing from her face as she exhaled and set her feet in motion. I should have just done this myself in the first place. The walk to her victim’s ramshackle home gave Jhoidha the time she needed to center herself. The cold and the darkness helped. Going into a confrontation with her temper inflamed by something else would only compromise her. She hadn’t risen to the rank of capo by doing stupid. Announcing herself would be the kind of idiocy that she would expect from her soldiers, so she dipped her hand into a belt pouch and came up with a clever bit of steel. Oh, so you don’t have the money for a serious lock. How sad. The skeleton key slid home smoothly, and with a few twitches of her wrist, the mobster had the door open and quickly slipped inside. Before she could turn around and search the house, a dagger slipped below Jhoidha’s ribs, barely missing her right kidney. It was hardly the first time she’d been stabbed. She didn’t even grunt with the pain, instead blindly grabbing her assailant by the wrist and pulling herself free of the blade. Gritting her teeth against the pain and trying her best to ignore the flow of blood down her side, ruining her tunic and vest, she blinked rapidly to adjust her vision. A cruel smile spread across her face as she recognized the distinctive nose and softly pointed ears of the half-elven man she sought. Perfect. "That was a mistake. We all make them, but make another and it will be your last, and I swear that by all the gods, both fair and foul." Small fangs bared by her smile, she snorted with derision. "My boys may have been unclear when they spoke with you earlier. I am going to need the crew roster and cargo manifest for the Petrel’s Cry, and I am going to need them now." Jhoidha paused, releasing the man’s arm and glaring at him. "I will forgive you your actions this evening, as you were unaware of the stakes. Cross me, speak of me or my…requests, or warn anyone, and not only will you die a most painful death, but your entire family will find itself unable to do business in this city for the rest of their natural lives, and that is a considerable amount of time by the look of your ears." Slowly, her unbloodied hand retrieved parchment, pen, and ink from a pocket. Proffering the tools, she took a deep breath and stared at the half-elf with her Hell-blessed eyes. "Now, are you going to do the smart thing, or am I going to need to make you regret many, many things?"

[OneDarkness]

Character App Bruno Larkin Human, Male, Lawful Evil, 46 years old Wizard - Divination specialistDiviner of Secrets and All the Knowledge skillsLore Master Physical Description Bruno may be getting on in years but he certainly is aging with some grace, and he clearly takes some pride in his appearance as he keeps his going grey beard neatly trimmed, and his thick wavy hair is healthy kept just above his shoulders. His light grey eyes are sharp and unclouded, truthfully they look more youthful than wany who are decades younger, and those that find themselves across the table with him can feel their intensity. His clothing tends to be less distinct, of simple colors and without any embellishment though is clearly of finer and more durable materials while being tailored to his build. He is rarely without his pet rat, Moreth, though those higher up in the family know there Moreth is Moreth is a Consular Impfar more than that as its coat is of the blackest ebony and its eyes a smoldering red like that of a ember given new life. Background Bruno was the only son of a local fence and the innkeeper's daughter next door, and while his mother left when he was young his father included him in his business from a young age. He always had a fine eye for the value of things and was a better coin counter than his father ever way, more clever than anybody had the right to be his father had always said and with that cleverness came an insatiable thirst for knowledge. His fathers holding were ideal to fuel that growing thirst, all manner of scrolls and books sold by adventurers, merchants, and the estates of the deceased would flow through the shop during his early years which he devoured eagerly. When not doing so he was often found in the inn across the street listening to the gossip and rumors of those that worked the docks and trades, and they always liked to talk. It wasn't long before people would come by his fathers if they wanted to know something, and if Bruno didn't know it he had his ways of finding out. He never learned arcana at the hands of another, instead achieved it through force of will, first with the spellbooks of minor wizards where he would decipher there writings and practice the most minor of magics till he had mastered them and progressing through others as they arrived at his father's shop. His passion lay in the art of divination, and he learned to keep the choicest books and scrolls aside for his own use as the years went by and if his father knew what he was doing he said nothing of it. His Father had always worked with the La Speranza family who rank this area of the city, and they made frequent use of his talents as well, as he grew older the Big Cheese offered him place within their ranks. He rose quickly and largely took over the eyes and ears of the family, keeping track of all intelligence gathering operations, blackmail and tabs on the others families in the city. It is said there is nothing he does not know, no pattern he can not discern and nothing is outside his vision. The Line Bruno is not cruel or malicious, but will do what needs to be done to make sure the family will survive, whatever that may take. What do you, the player want I want and engaging story with a great cast of characters RP Sample   Bruno leaned back from the table as his fingers barely raised the edges of the cards from the table, a cursory glance was all needed to commit them to memory as he watched the other players around the table glance at their own cards after they had been dealt. Was an odd assortment of players, a sailor fresh off the boat and with some coins to loose, son of some sort of upper class type by the cut of his clothes slumming it in the docks, Markus a minor celebrity in a local fight club, Jimmy the net mender whose nimble fingers were as adept at card manipulation as they were at mending nets and lastly a travelling merchant who appeared down on his luck. The others might not realize it but Jimmy despite being wizened and missing some teeth was the one to be careful of, he had been on a hot streak these past few weeks around the card tables in the inns and taverns, though Bruno suspected the man was cheating more than just lucky. He hadn't caught him doing yet tonight, but Jimmy also knew who Bruno was so was probably playing it cool tonight as Bruno had a knack for seeing things that others just didn't have. Signaling he passed the bet to his sailor to the left, he waited as the sailor had been tossing coins at every hand he had tonight whether the cards were good or bad, so there was no reason for Bruno to bid the pot up just yet. As expected the the sailor tossed a gold in the pot with a jubilant smile, if like other hands the smile was any sign he was bluffing on a low pair and hoping to push the others out or at least give them pause. The noble son tossed in the gold like it was pocket lint, Markus stared long and hard at the sailor and then tossed his cards down and while Jimmy looked like he had been listening to what passed for music from the bard, Bruno knew he was as keenly watching things as he was. Jimmy gave a shrug and tossed a gold coin into the pile as if not say why not, Bruno tossed a gold in as well. [i]I wonder what the others see when I play and watch them, do I have some tell tale sign i dont even know about...[/say] The sailor tossed one and got another card in return, noble son exchange two, Jimmy exchanged one and so did Bruno. Bruno checked again to the sailor who tossed in two golds from his dwindling pile, which was enough I guess for the noble son who threw in his cards, but Jimmy tossed in his two and then three more. The sailor looked crest fallen at the turn of events but Bruno arched an eyebrow at Jimmy and pushed in his five golds as well. The sailor on the other hand pondered for a minute or so, likely gauging how many golds he could afford to lose before his shore leave would be a waste and finally he threw down his cards and scooped his remaining coins up and left the table without so much of a word. "Looks like we have lost our first player of the night." "Meh I may not be too far behind him, I have a match to fight later and an errand to run before hand, so its as good a time as any to cut my losses for the night. Its been a pleasure gents." Markus nodded at them and scooped his own coins before heading towards the back of the inn. "Doesn't leave much of a table..." The noble son added, truth be told he probably didn't see much fun playing against Jimmy and Bruno who were on the older side now that the sailor was gone and Markus as well. "...I might head back up town and see if I can find a real game or two to play." Jimmy rolled his eyes as the noble son turned to listen to the bard, Bruno just shook his head. "Guess that leaves just you and me Jimmy, what do you say we make this hand interesting. Loser buys a bottle of fine wine as well." Jimmy grinned. "I like where you are going with this, but only if you stay and drink it with me while I count your golds." Bruno chuckled. "Alright I am in." Flipping his cards over Bruno reveals a straight to the 10. Jimmy follows immediately after with a flush of diamonds. "Close my friend, but looks like luck is with me tonight." Bruno sighs. "Next time I will get you." The noble son scooped his coins and left the table and Bruno signaled their server and ordered the wine as promised. Jimmy had won about twenty golds from him tonight, and while most would be bitter at the loss for Bruno it had all been part of the plan, you see Jimmy's shop was next door to the dock warden's office and the walls were thin. So in exchange for losing golds to him every week Brunno got to here all the good gossip about what was happening around the docks, what tax man might be in a bit of trouble, or what shift the new guy was working who was less fussy about checking the cargo. It was all about the cost of doing business, and lucky for Bruno the family business was good. GM Question and Answer

[Totentanzen]

I like the idea, consider me interested.

[Grouchy]

I have the perfect PC for this.

Character Concept Name: Lurgoz "Snaps" Ogdugarn Race: Half Orc Age: 23 Alignment: Neutral Class: Unchained Rogue 8 (Skulking Slayer) Description: Snaps stands about a foot taller than the average man, with a heavily muscled frame which appears statuesque underneath his brownish-gray skin. His head is shaved bald and gleams in the light, and his hard facial features are surprisingly handsome for a half orc. He has a strong brow and dark penetrating eyes, with a wide nose and just a trace of tusks emanating from his lower lip. His posture is proud and almost regal in its appearance, and his movements seem methodical as if he only moves when he wishes to. He is finely dressed in the latest fashions, with a long dark green jacket embroidered with silver covering a loose white tunic and black breeches with a pair of expensive looking and well polished boots. A thick belt with a silver buckle adorns his waist from which hangs an ornate dagger in a quality looking sheath. When he is working, he sometimes likes to bring along an ornate looking great club he affectionately calls "Penelope." His voice is surprisingly polished and eloquent for a half orc. Background: Born into a destitute family living in a small shanty in the Poor Ward, his deadbeat orc father named his son Lurgoz before abandoning him and his young mother Sandrissa just weeks after the boy was born. Sandrissa, an alcoholic and prostitute, showed no interest in the boy once his father left and abandoned him at an early age, moving on to other parts of the Old Quarter before she contracted a disease from her activities and died when Lurgoz was only five years old. Raised by his grandparents, Lurgoz had little to look forward to in life and was poorly treated by them. His grandparents considered him a burden and beat and abused the boy until he could no longer take it and he left home at eight years old. Despite his youth, he was already much larger than most of the other children, and soon he was roaming around with a gang of other children who lived in a shanty of their own design and often traveled to other parts of Parsantium to steal food and other items to get by. It was a rough life, and Lurgoz still remembers the first boy he killed when he was only 10 years old. He was trying to steal Lurgoz's food and pulled a knife on him - Lurgoz was wrestling him for the knife when it entered the other boy's throat and killed him. Lurgoz was told killing was wrong, but as he watched the other boy lie on the ground thrashing in his own blood, Lurgoz felt nothing at all. It was either him or the other boy, and in Lurgoz's eyes it was always going to be him from this point forward. The tall muscular half orc considered the de facto leader of a group of wayward youths came to the attention of the La Speranza family, who decided the youth would make a fine addition to helping collect late loans from uncooperative patrons. Lurgoz now had a job with a crime family, and he was earning real coin for the first time in his life. It was at this point when Lurgoz decided he was no longer going to be the man he was before - he was going to pick his path from this point forward. Now calling himself Snaps (a nickname he picked up due to his penchant of breaking fingers while discussing late payments), the half orc immediately began making a reputation for himself as a man who can get things done by engaging in low level enforcer work. Snaps was sensible however and used what he earned for a comfortable if not low class lifestyle so he could invest in himself. He was soon purchasing books to learn more about the world around him, picked the brains of those he worked with to learn their secrets, and even obtained private lessons from a bard in order to learn how to speak eloquently. He reached out to men at arms, always under an assumed name, and learned the ways of the blade and other weapons. He is now one of the top enforcers in the La Speranza family, specializing in debt collection, and has made a very lucrative lifestyle for himself with a reputation of a man who can get things done for the right price, no matter what it is. Not bad for a poor dumb half orc from the Poor Ward. The Line: Snaps actually dislikes killing in general. He recognizes its usefulness from time to time, but given a choice he'd rather pummel someone into submission than run them through (after all, a corpse can't get you much gold). He will do it if he has to, but he doesn't like to. He has a soft spot for urchins and would really struggle to kill one - after all, he was one of them before. He's even caught one or two with their hands in his pockets and rather than stuff them headfirst in the nearest latrine he has taken it easy on them. What do you, the player, want: A good story, a good time, and to see how Snaps evolves and grows out of it. Roleplaying Sample As the well dressed gnome is taking stock of his inventory on a piece of parchment, he hears the squeak of the front door and footsteps. Without looking up, the gnome says in a rehearsed tone "Welcome, friend, to Corhim's Fine Goods and Services! Please give me one moment to finish tallying up the stock and I will be happy to serve you." **CRASH!!!** The gnome jumps in surprise, causing his quill to draw a long line through the numbers he was just working on. Looking up, he can see one of the stacks of shelves nearest the door had been knocked over. Cooking utensils, tools, and broken sacks of ingredients lay strewn out all over the floor. Irate, the gnome screams "What in the name of the gods are you doing??" before glaring angrily at the large figure still standing in the doorway. Stupid half breed, thinks Corhim the gnome angrily as he takes in the dark brown skin and small tusks of the well dressed visitor. "Hello, Corhim," greets the handsome half orc warmly, in a surprisingly friendly tone of voice. "You don't know me, but I know you. And of what I do know of you troubles me greatly." The half orc's polished speech and statements confuses Corhim, who stands mute as he tries to make sense of the situation. Stepping heavily on top of the shelves lying on the floor, the half orc gracefully steps next to the gnome and looks down at the gnome, towering over the small figure. "From what I hear," continues the half orc, "Business has been awfully good for you lately yet your previous monthly payments to my employer have been coming up a bit... short... as of late." The half orc leans over and moves almost nose to nose with Corhim when he says the word "short". Gulping deeply, Corhim suddenly realizes why the half orc is there. He steps back and begins to stammer out a response when the large half orc holds up a finger to the gnome's lips to shush him. "Be warned, before you speak - all I want to hear is that you have the money and that you are ready to give it to me. Now. Continue." A bit flustered, Corhim's voice cracks noticeably as he says "Actually, sir, business has not been so well lately. I think the combination of the poor weather and this recent issue of taxes with the government has... Wait! Wait! What are you doing?!?" Corhim is suddenly snatched into the air by the collar of his doublet as the half orc holds him in the air with one arm. Growling ferociously, the handsome features of the half orc twisted into a fierce snarl, the half orc whispers in a menacing tone "I warned you..." Effortlessly throwing the gnome over the top of the counter, Corhim lands heavily onto his back with a grunt. Wheezing heavily from the wind being knocked out of him, Corhim barely registers that the half orc has a grip of his left wrist until he can feel thick fingers grabbing his thumb. "I don't like to repeat myself," he hears the half orc calmly say, before with a sudden jerk he hears what sounds like the snapping of a twig and a burst of pain emanating from his left hand. Howling in pain, the last thing Corhim sees before everything goes black is an enormous brown fist filling his vision. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shaking his head, Snaps looks down at the unconscious gnome. I had a feeling he wouldn't listen, he thinks to himself. Searching Corhim quickly, Snaps recovers a small key from his breeches pocket. Unlocking the small strongbox underneath the counter, Snaps recovers the gold owed the guild and cleans out the rest for himself. Dropping the key onto the gnome's chest, he flips over the piece of parchment that Corhim had just been writing on. Using the quill from the table, Snaps writes in large letters "See you next month." He then drops the quill back onto the counter and, stepping carefully over the mess he made, leaves the store. There is still a few more stops to make today.

[Silk]

I've been looking for more Pathfinder games I prefer them over D&D 5e.

I'm not big into though I have watched a fewcrime shows nor a sailor so two questions,

• What's a Capo?
• And for the Family Territory, what's the difference between The Dock and The Harbour? Never mind. I looked at the map and saw they are facing each other across the river <slaps forehead>

[triedtherest]

The Basics Name: Ichabod “Doc' Whitey” Walters Race: Human Age: 28 Alignment: Lawful Neutral Class: Alchemist 5/Guild Poisoner 3 Description: Called "Whitey" due to his long blonde hair, though he often hides it under his hood when he needs to operate discretely! His early and long term exposure to mind-altering Poisons, as well as a somewhat fraught childhood, has left him emotionally numb, leaving him with a constantly blank expression. As the Underboss once said: "That Doc' Whitey's got the Ultimate Poker Face!" Background: Doc's father, "Whitey", had been an associate, and then Soldier, to the Family. When he died on what had supposedly been a "simple job". Pop's had been a violently abusive husband and father, but he'd made sure that his family had enough to not starve at least. With his death, "Young Whitey" tried to put food on the table by selling illegal chems, but being young and inexperienced, got caught soon after. The Family blamed him for losing "the Product" but were impressed that he didn't "rat" even though it would have got him out of jail much sooner, so he was offered the "Opportunity" to work off his debt by assisting with "Production" and even get to take home a good portion of coin for his ailing mother. By the time the debt was paid, Whitey had proved to have a particular talent for the work, and not just for manufacturing Product, but also Creating a bunch of "things that go boom", primarily for insurance jobs, to make evidence "disappear", or more rarely to make a statement! Young Whitey continued to study his craft in order to make himself as indispensable to the Family as possible. His study of the Alchemical Sciences is what eventually gained him his nickname of "Doc'" Whitey, first as a for of mockery, but as he took on the Role of a "Mob-Doctor", the moniker became a term of grudging respect, and after the "disappearance" of the Family's Gnomish Alchemist "Doctor Bleaching", Doc' Whitey took on the responsibility of all of the Family's Illegal Alchemical Item (Chem's for short) Manufacturing. The Line: No killing/torture/abuse of kids What do you, the player, want: To see how far I can expore with this Character idea, and have some fun doing so with others. RP Sample: "Doc! HEY DOC!" The shout woke "Doc' Whitey" from his ether-induced dream. He had fallen asleep in the study of his workshop/clinic that he also called "Home". It was pretty far out in the slums, but even the degenerates that lived round there knew not to interfere with Doc' Whitey, with good reason. All of his "assistants" had gone home for the day, so he couldn't think of who was bothering him now. "WHATCHA' WANT?" He yelled out, rousing himself. "I got injured here, Doc!" Came a strained reply. The Doc' sighed, that would explain it! He was pretty much the "go-to-guy" when things went south on a job. Sure, the Priests could take a Bribe, but a lot of the guys felt guilty around Clergy, even corrupt ones. He walked out of his sitting room into what could only be described as an abattoir! Nobby-no-nose was there with four fella's, who were all cut up to one degree or another, two were unconscious, he'd have to see to them first! Alright, time ta go ta work I guess! "Nobby! Why you gettin' Red all over my floor? You know the Boss said "lay low" for a spell!" Said the Doc', working on the first guy. "Hey! It was a plumb job, no risk, nobody shoulda been around ter see!" "Huh! "No risk" Nobby!" The Doc said, waving a needle around indicating the wounded guys. "Really?" The Doc' was already working on the next guy. "Alright, small risk!" Nobby conceded. The Doc scoffed. The second guy was going to be ok. The third an fourth guys were still awake, so the Doc grabbed a couple of vials marked "Milk of the Poppy+" and handed them over for the guys to down. "Fer the pain!" He explained. "You take one too, Nobby. I'll need to work on your should when I'm done with these two wise guys!" The others were bleeding a fair bit, but nowhere major. A short while later, Doc Whitey was surrounded by five unconscious, but otherwise healthy gangsters. Oh, and a crapton of blood. Making sure they were all out of it, he unlocked a cupboard, and brought out several sets of manacles, which he used to attach each guys leg on a line, like a sleeping chain gang. Then he went outside and sent a vagrant kid that he used as a runner to a specific address with a coded message. He turns back to the sleeping forms. "Yeah, the Boss is gonna want a word with you Nobby!" He said, then sighed. "I hope that I didn' do this work fer nothin'!"

[Ziether]

If I'm reading this correctly, you're looking for characters who aren't serious to a fault. Room for humor is essential. If I'm wrong, please let me know.

Additionally, how do you want to handle clerics/inquisitors/warpriests? Is your setting free from organized religion? Is there a pantheon you wish to be used? Would you prefer that these classes be avoided?

[Grouchy]

Originally Posted by Ziether

If I'm reading this correctly, you're looking for characters who aren't serious to a fault. Room for humor is essential. If I'm wrong, please let me know.

I am hoping the same, because as mean as Snaps is he is picking up Greater Dirty Trick to facilitate that. With Underhanded Maneuvers, he has +8 to dirty tricks if he goes for the dirty trick over a sneak attack. Stealth wedgies for the sickened condition!

[Preacherwolf]

Originally Posted by Silk

I've been looking for more Pathfinder games I prefer them over D&D 5e.

I'm not big into though I have watched a fewcrime shows nor a sailor so two questions,

• What's a Capo?
• And for the Family Territory, what's the difference between The Dock and The Harbour? Never mind. I looked at the map and saw they are facing each other across the river <slaps forehead>

So the heirachy of the Mafia goes like this:

- The Don: The Head and boss of the family
- The Underboss: The Number Two, generally your most trusted or second trusted guy
- Capo: The Captains. Trusted men who have the Don's favour and can be relied on to not only earn big for the family and run a racket or two on their own, but keep your mouth shut when the cops come around. You're not a foot solider or peon, you have actual command and power within the family. Generally speaking a Capo isn't to be touched or harmed unless by order of the boss himself,
- Soliders: The rank and file of the mafia. Errend boys, dumb muscle, drivers etc. These guys are the equivilant of an entry level mafia position. A Capo would have a group of them under him. These guys can get whacked at any which point really, even by their own side if need be (though questions are still going to be asked)
- Associates: Not really in the mafia, but more have or do things the family need. Mafia-adjacent really

Originally Posted by Ziether

If I'm reading this correctly, you're looking for characters who aren't serious to a fault. Room for humor is essential. If I'm wrong, please let me know.

Correct, I don't intend to be running this as a 100% pure dramatic piece about the Mafia and its life. Room for humor is essential because god knows I won't be playing it straight all the time. Just take a look at some of the mobster's nicknames for evidence of that.

Originally Posted by Ziether

Additionally, how do you want to handle clerics/inquisitors/warpriests? Is your setting free from organized religion? Is there a pantheon you wish to be used? Would you prefer that these classes be avoided?

All those classes are welcome in the mob, just because you're a holy man doesn't mean you can't be a corrupt mobster. Hell in The La Morte Family have a fair few divine members in their rankscertain families its a requirement. The city does have a floriushing organised religon section, there is after all a Temple Ward. As for Pantheon, the standard Pathfinder patheon would be the dieties practiced in the city

[AlphaZ]

Completed, draft 2 Name: Leona Avanci, cutthroat lawyer Race: Human Age: 28 Alignment: Lawful Evil Class Unchained Monk (scaled fist) 1/Swashbuckler (mystic corsair) 7 Role Face, Infiltration, Damage Description: Leona is slightly taller than an average woman, fit and well-proportioned, with a kind of intimidating beauty about her. She enjoys the finer things in life, and her clothes, skin, and hair tend to reflect expensive and meticulous grooming. She is a very precise and detail-oriented person, and thus can come off as calculating and intense.   Leona has almost enough noble blood in her to manage a title and the corresponding life of privilege. Almost. And she's never lost sight of that. Raised in the Imperial district by a well-enough-off family, Leona couldn't help but spend her early years looking wistfully towards the grand walls of the Palace ward. Her parents spoke of it often enough, bragging about their near-nobility to their lessers in the Imperial and Civic wards. She felt the call to nobility. She could feel the grace, the lust for wealth and power, woven into her golden hair and exquisite form. She was certain that was the life that she had been meant for. As she grew older she joined a monastery to study law. She researched bloodlines, nobility, titles, and codes surrounding them looking for a loophole, a back door into royal living. Ultimately she found none. But in the process she discovered another kind of nobility; other families that could be considered royalty. And for this she needed no birthright. She abandoned the monastery and their rigid masteries to seek out her fortune on her own. Soon her studies of history and law yielded her a lucrative career as a lawyer for those interested. Her reputation became that of one who would take any case for the right price. Over time her work drew the attention of the shadow ruling class and she was given a position with a crime family. She got a title, a kind of nobility and privilege, and they got an unscrupulous lawyer in their pocket. All she had to do to prove her loyalty was to assassinate a judge before he could send one of their Capos to jail. Apparently her talent with words is matched only by her talent with a blade. The Line: Leona is a lawyer, not a thug. She won't do basic blue collar crime. She does kill people though. What do you, the player, want: I just like to discover a character by playing them, making choices and digging deeper as it feels right. Plus I like to use all the cool class features a Pathfinder character has. Everybody's abilities are unique, and everyone should have a chance to really shine! Besides that, I'd love to explore Leona's lawyer side as much as her assassin side. Like an evil Daredevil.   "We're sending you to the La Speranzas." The dull dwarf said in a flat and dispassionate tone. The papers on his desk were neatly stacked and ordered, and an old pipe rested in a tray on the corner, a gentle but full, woody scent still wisping out of the bowl. Leona stood before the desk in silent shock. "The... La Speranzas? As in, goblins, and poor people?" The disgust was evident in her tone, her engaging voice and fierce demeanor filling the room with brimming outrage. But her composure kept it back like a great dam holding back a mighty tide. "Yes." The response was simple and curt, Joesph not even looking up from his accounting. His pen dipped and scratched, dipped and scratched, quickly filling tables in a journal. He seemed wholly unphased by the woman's reaction. Perhaps barely even aware of it. "Have I not been loyal to the family? Have I not served you well? Have I not done all I was asked, and more? Tell me, of diplomats, who is my better? And which assassin is more capable? And you would send me to mingle with unwashed beggars and... sweaty men." She turned her head and wrinkled her nose at the last remark, clearly conjuring up an unpleasant image. "Yes, you are quite good, and very loyal. That is why we need you there. There are whispers. Rumors. Anthony is ambitious above all others, and some think he may be preparing to make a move. We need you there. You may have to... represent our interests." The dwarf droned, picking up his pipe and gently puffing a few times. He did, at last, make eye contact with Leona. The woman remained silent for a time, looking back and forth, mind churning. She still looked tense, ready to snap, but eventually her smoldering gaze settled back on Joesph. "This will take time, and labor, and a considerable amount of coordination. How long do I have?" Blowing out a long stream of gossamer smoke, the dwarf rested his pipe back on the corner of the desk and replied flatly, "It's already done. You will be theirs tomorrow. Give them your best, and await further instructions." And suddenly he was back to his tables, dip and scratch, dip and scratch. A lackey came to escort her out and introduce her to her new arrangements. She jerked her arm away from him but followed begrudgingly nonetheless. "Vile and unsavory, the whole affair." She muttered to herself after the door had closed behind her. "So this is the price of loyalty."

[Seekr34]

Name: Damon Draven
Race: Dhampir
Age: 110
Alignment: CN
Class: 5th level Rogue (unchained)/3rd level Shadowdancer
Description: He stands around six feet tall, his body looking very athletic. His eyes dark brown, and his dark long hair hangs down to his shoulders. When looking at him, you see a very handsome young man that seems to attract the females’ eyes while the men seem to regard him as someone that you shouldn’t ignore. Although young looking, his eyes give off as one that had seen more life than one of his age would see. Dressed in all black from head to toe, with a smirk that can be unsettling, but alas, some women like the bad boy type. A blade at his side and a dagger sheath at each thigh and at each rib, he walks without fear. He seems to fit in anywhere, he can fit in with the nobles and you would think he was some prince, he can also mingle just as easily with the peasants. However, one thing does stand out, the shadows, he seems to be at one with the dark as if he is indeed, a creature of the night.

Background: He grew up in the orphanage, while growing up, he soon realized that he was not like other human children, and it was hard. He only had one friend that he could on. He began to learn how to hide his curse, as he would call it.

During his preteen years, he lived the street as a beggar, doing what he can to survive. When he was in his mid-teens a man from a local thieves’ guild came up to him with an offer. It seemed better than living on the streets and he’ll have a bed and such, along with daily meals. So, he took it.

Some years later, he was at the top of his game and well respected among his peers. Yes, he had some who where rivalries, and a few feared them, while a few others hated him. That was normal. With his slow aging process, he got to know every square inch of the city. He learned who and what gang was in charged in what sections of the city. He made contacts, having at least one in each section. His teacher had told him it was important, and knowledge always give you an upper hand. There still be times when he would be caught off guard, but at least he has all the bases covered.

One day, he then was called into the office of one of the council members. There was another man there, he looked old. Turned out, the man was like him. It took a while, but they had to be sure if Damon was loyal and what type of person, he would turn out to be. His kind were like humans, some are good folk, some are deadly evil, and the rest were in between. He seems to fit in between, so they were now ready to tell Damon what he needed to know. First, the old man told him everything about him and Damon found out that his mother was a noble. His father, a vampire that took her with him. He probably turned her into a vampire now and mayhap, his lover. He was in shock at first. Then anger slowly rose inside of him. He could have had a good life growing up. Damon was then told of his abilities, the advantages and disadvantages he had in being a dhampir. A couple of things he knew about already, and one that he learned the hard way. Then there was another shock.

They wanted him to join the La Speranzas, in fact, it’s been set up. They needed another experienced man and the Council had selected Damon because there was something going on over there and they only had bits and pieces, but it was enough that they needed an inside man. So, Damon had a new guild as his employer. He was used to being poor, since he was poor growing up, so he could relate to them. Working for a goblin though was a bit tough to bite, but he really didn’t have choice in the matter.


The Line: Growing up in an orphanage, he will not harm any children nor innocent folks, especially hard working folks who just mind their own lives.

What do you, the player, want: What do you the player want out of this game?: What I want? Fun. What I want out of this game? Comrade.

RP Sample:

 

When Damon was summoned to Councilor Trent’s office, he figured there was an important job for him. When he entered the office, there was another man, one he had seen only a few times. He looked old.

“Ah Damon, good to see you, sit, be comfortable.”

“Thank you, Councilor.” Damon bowed his head before he sat down.

“Now, we called you here because of two things, the first, we’ve been watching you and we’re very happy with you and your service to us. It’s been a long time, too many years, but your kind is sort of like the half-orcs and us humans. Some of us are bad, some good, some in between. Like the half-orcs, we needed to be sure if you could handle the negativity from others in regards of what you are.”

Damon looked at them both with a neutral expression, having learned long ago to hide his feelings, but he was curious where this was going. “What exactly am? I have yet to find out, no one seem to know what I am cursed with.”

The old man then spoke with a half a grin as he looked at the young man into the eyes for a few seconds. “You are cursed with vampire blood son.” When Damon started to laugh it off, the old man bared his fangs, and Damon just stared at the man. “You suspected, have you not? You must have known something when you had shown your fangs before you were able to control your emotion.” The old man looked at him calmly, like a father would to a son.

Damon just nodded, then suddenly, he wondered, was this old man a relative?

The old man then smiled, as if he knew what the young man was thinking, then chuckled. “We are no relation son, none at all, but we are both the same race, we’re called Dhampirs. Half human, half vampire. We are a rare breed, we are rarely seen, and we may meet one and never know it. Not even to each other.”

He then went out explaining what dhampirs were, how they come to be, and the ability and skills, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of their species. Many had surprised Damon, a few things, he had found out on his own, one of them, the hard way.

“Now, as I said, there are two ways for you to be born. After much detective work, it turns out a vampire had impregnated your mother and a couple of years after you were born, the vampire took disappeared with your mother. Probably turned her into a vampire as well to become his lover. Your mother is from a noble family. I will not tell you which family they are, for they do not want you. I’ve talked to them and rather than tarnish the family name, they rather not know of you, and you are not in their family book. As far as they are concerned, your mother was killed in some mugging. That necklace around your neck is your family’s symbol. I did not take it, I feel a person should know who they are and where they come from. As I said, they do not want you, but you can decide to see them or not, once you figure out what family the symbol belongs to.”

Damon sat there stunned, having no words. The two men just sat there calmly, letting the young man take it all in. It was twenty minutes before he could get any words out. “So, I am truly an orphan, for I have no one.”

The old man walked over and said nothing, just clasps a hand on the young man shoulders, understanding, for he had been in a similar situation.

Damon then looked up at Trent. “You said there was two things you wanted to see me for.”

Trent nodded his head. “Yes, the second thing is, we want to send you the La Speranzas. Something is going over there, and we’ve only gotten bits and pieces, but it’s enough for us to suspect that the Goblin might be making an important move, and we need to know what it is”.

“You want me as your inside man to find out what is going on?”

Trent nodded. “Yes, we need you, but what is your opinion? I need to know, I do not want to send you over, only for you to disappear somewhere.”

Damon thought it over calmly and thoughtfully. The idea of working for a goblin repulsed him, he still not sure how some goblins were able to reform and work with people, actually work with them. Poor section, well, he knows what that is like and can relate the poor folks. He sighed, then nodded. “I accept the job. You been good to me, and things like this has to be done. So, I’m your man.”

The old man smiled with a nod and Trent beamed at the young man. “Good, good to hear. I was hoping you would. You have three days before you go over there. I figured you need some time to process what you are.”

Damon nodded, now he knew the real reason why he was approached a few months ago to learn the goblin language.

[ekidnu]

Ooh, very interesting. Preacherwolf, will you be using Background Skills?

[Silk]

Hmm, I was thinking of making a Swashbuckler(Dashing Thief) 2 or 3 / Bard(Archaeologist-Buccaneer) 5 or 6 but it seems we have several rogues and swashbuckler's so I might have to rethink my character as Archaeologist effectively turns the Bard class into a poor rogue with magic.

hmm...maybe drop the Archaeologist?